Provo Library Children's Book Blog

 Art is all around us, bringing us happiness and filling our lives with beauty. Whether you are an artist or a spectator, there is so much to learn about art and the artists behind the work. Here are a few picture books that encourage creativity and appreciation for art. Time to Make Art By Jeff Mack New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2024. Picture Book. A little girl is asking artists from all throughout history about what makes something “art.” Not only is she learning to appreciate art of all different kinds, but she is learning that there is nothing really holding her back from being an artist herself. There is always something to create and there is no exact way to create art. Nature is an Artist Written by Jennifer Lavallee Illustrated by Natalia Colombo Vancouver ; Berkeley ; London : Greystone Kids, [2022] Picture Book. Nature is the greatest artist, with all of the beautiful colors, shapes, and creations that come from it. We can also become artists by observing and following

  The Enigma Girls By Candace Fleming New York: Scholastic Focus, 2024. Informational. 371 pages. If you have an interest in little known aspects of history or in World War II in particular, this book is for you. The Enigma Girls tells the story of 10 young women who worked at Station X at Bletchley Park in England helping to break ciphers during World War II. Each of the girls grew up in different circumstances, and thus, each worked at in a different part of Station X cracking codes. The reader learns about how Station X worked through the stories of each of the girls. Whether it was transcribing the Morse code messages that the Germans were sending to their armies or decoding, translating, or paraphrasing messages, each girl had a part to play. The stories of the girls are intermixed with plenty of photographs as well as special chapters about how to decode various types of ciphers. Learning about Station X through the eyes of the girls that worked there helps the reader gain a huma

 Spring, with its abundant rain, is the perfect time to talk about ponds and pond life. From the diverse reptiles, fish, and amphibians who live in the water itself to the vast array of birds, insects, and mammals who depend on them, ponds are an ever-changing and interesting ecosystem to observe and study. What is your favorite thing about ponds?  The Noisy Puddle: A Vernal Pool Through the Seasons Written by Linda Booth Sweeney Illustrated by Miki Sato  Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2024. Picture Book. A vernal pool, also known as an ephemeral pond, is a seasonal phenomenon that occurs when rainfall temporarily creates a wetland or pond. This beautifully collaged picture book follows a brother and sister as they observe one such pool through the seasons and how the area and wildlife changes with the weather. The Book of Turtles Written by Sy Montgomery  Illustrated by Matt Patterson New York: Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Informational.  While turtles are a we

Intermediate Mystery books are a gold mine. High-low books refer to titles that are of high interest to readers, but contain low level vocabulary. These titles are clever, action-packed, and have several books in the series to keep the mystery alive. These intermediate mystery books are the first in their series and are sure to appease any mystery loving reader. The Ghost Tree Written by Natasha Deen Illustrated by Lissy Marlin New York: Random House Children's Books, 2022. Intermediate. 95 pages. With a dash of paranormal mixed with mystery, this book introduces Asim, a Guyanese American fourth grader who moves to a new town. After a visit to a graveyard, an evil spirit is unleashed. Asim works with new friends, Rokshar and Max, to save their town. With scarily cool illustrations to accompany this text, this book is great for any amateur sleuths who love a touch of creepy. Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash Written by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver Illustrated by Dan San

Camp Shady Crook By Lee Gjertsen Malone New York: Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 2019. Fiction. 279 pages. Budding con artists Archie and Vivien spend a summer at a dilapidated, mismanaged Vermont camp competing to get whatever they want from their fellow campers. --Editor Camp Famous By Jennifer Blecher New York: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2022. Fiction. 261 pages. When eleven-year-old Abby learns she will be attending summer camp, she is excited at the idea of a fresh start, but when she discovers she is going to Camp Famous, a place exclusively for famous kids like pop stars, princesses, and geniuses, her enthusiasm turns to apprehension. --Editor Camp Scare By Delilah S. Dawson New York: Delacorte Press, 2022. Fiction. 276 pages. Bullied and lonely, Parker Nelson is excited to make a new friend at camp, but then bad, unexplainable things start happening to Parker's tormenters, and she soon discovers that her new friend might not be

Preschool Time True Colors By Gonçalo Viana Hudson, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2021. Picture Book. A green cloud and a white tree? Who is responsible for illustrating this book? True Colors begins innocently with two friends, their dog, and their kite, but each time the story gets started, more colors seem to go awry. The narrator implores the reader to help as townspeople, a group of scientists, and the town tailor all try to determine what is going wrong. As the characters engage in comical attempts to reverse the colors, the two friends show us that colors can do all sorts of amazing tricks--with a little imagination. Gonçalo Viana's bold, retro illustration style brings joy and laughter to all shapes, sizes, and colors. --Editor   Preschool Time Blue Vs. Yellow By Tom Sullivan New York: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2017. Picture Book.  Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the clash of the colors! Blue vs yellow. Which one will